'101 Dalmatians' Coming to Stage

There will be plenty of tails wagging in this tale on Friday and Saturday nights.

Barrington’s nonprofit theater program, Arts Alive!, and first- through third-grade students at Sowams School present their production of the classic book and Walt Disney film, “101 Dalmatians.”

The curtain at Barrington Middle School auditorium will rise at 7 pm on both nights, March 30-31. The show is based on the 1958 novel by Dodie Smith, said Arts Alive! director Dena Davis. It is directed by Pamela Morgan.

“The play tells the story of Dalmatian dogs, Pongo and Perdita, and their puppies, who live with their human owners, Roger and Anita, and enjoy a happy life,” Davis said.

Happy until villainess Cruella De Vil tries to buy the litter to make a spotted coat, muff and boots, she said.

“Anita and Roger refuse to sell them,” Davis said. “So Cruella and her evil henchmen, Horace and Jasper, kidnap the puppies, along with many other Dalmatians in the city.”

All is not lost, of course.

With help from the "London Dogs," a motley crew of Boxers, Scotties, Poodles, and Chihuahuas, the puppies are found and Cruella, Horace and Jasper are captured, Davis said.

We did say a lot of tails will be wagging in this show, didn’t we?

There will be a lot more than tails in this tale, of course, said Davis.

“The show features musical numbers that include ‘Dalmatian Conga’, ‘Cruella De Vil’, ‘Twilight Bark’, ‘My Beautiful Coat’ and ‘Dalmatian Plantation’.

“This is truly a treat for the whole family,” said Davis. “This doggone delightful rendition, performed by a 62-member cast, is sure to get your tail wagging.”

Tickets are $5 and can be reserved by emailing acatani@gmail.com. For more information, call Arts Alive! at (401) 258-1180.